John Molson Sports Business Conference: A fresh take on the business of sports

The John Molson Sports Business Conference began as a Concordia-only gathering. Nineteen years on, it is now Canada’s largest student-run sports marketing conference.

The John Molson Sports Marketing Committee (JMSM) — which is comprised of John Molson School of Business (JMSB) undergrads — organizes the event and promotes the interaction between students and this fast-paced industry

Last year, the JMSM conference welcomed more than 250 delegates from across the country. This time around, they hope to attract more international attention by boosting the attendance of American students at the November 6-8 conference.

To that end, the organizers are introducing a panel of general managers from professional sports teams, and another panel solely focused on U.S. college sports.

The conference headliners include:

• Marc Bergevin, general manager of the Montreal Canadiens
• Don Meehan, NHLPA hockey player agent,
• Ned Colletti, senior adviser to the president of the Los Angeles Dodgers,
• Julien BriseBois, Tampa Bay Lightning Assistant General Manager,
• Kerry Bubolz, Cleveland Cavaliers President of Business Operations,
• Darren Dreger and John Lu from TSN,
• Elliotte Friedman, Hockey Night In Canada.

Steve Lyberopoulos, a Concordia marketing student and the JMSM’s president, says this year’s conference will highlight the symbiotic relationship between the business and sports worlds.

“We’re diverging from sports business to more sports and business. It’s not just going to be about the money side — it’ll also be about the athletic side, which appeals to a larger pool of students,” he says.

Because student delegates are essential to the success of this conference, JMSM’s logistical lead, Mélanie L’Heureux, emphasizes the importance of creating opportunities for delegates to meet face to face with invited speakers. “It is our goal to give everyone the chance to connect with, and learn from, one another on a very personal basis.”

David Zorko, JMSM’s managing director of delegate recruitment, agrees. He stresses how essential the conference is for those interested in pursuing a career in the business side of sports.

“A topic that was mentioned in the 2013 conference was how small of a circle this industry is and how everyone knows each other, even across various sports,” he says.

“I personally got a job out of what happened last year, and I’m not the only one.”

The 19th annual John Molson Sports Marketing Committee runs from November 6 to 8. Buy your tickets today!

Thumbnail by Kingston (Flickr Creative Commons.)